By: Rene Maserati
Tea fan? Lover of tea? Tea buff? Tea sipper? Tea connoisseur? All the above! What can I say? I love me some tea. It picks me up in the morning and is part of my nightly wind down. Hot or iced, it’s a year-round event.
Because of this love affair between me and tea, I decided to make my own blend! One that not only tastes delicious but is also good for your skin. Rosehips bring delicate floral notes and a pop of tartness balanced by chamomile’s apple honey earthiness. Hints of light grass and floral notes are brought in by red clover, while red raspberry leaf brings a little sweetness and tang. Grassy green nettle is balanced by the sweet oat tops. The blend is rounded out with refreshing mint and lemon from spearmint and lemon verbena.
When the weather is hot, iced tea is the way to go. Here’s my favorite method-
Add 4 tablespoons of Healthy Skin Tea to a French press. Fill with just-boiling water. Steep for 10-15 minutes. Press plunger of French press down and pour tea into a 32-ounce glass jar. Refrigerate for an hour or so before pouring over ice. Keep refrigerated for up to a week. Enjoy regularly!
If you don’t have a French press, no worries! You can add the tea blend directly to the just-boiled water and steep in the pot. Strain with a fine mesh strainer (as the spearmint is very finely cut so it may pop through larger mesh strainers). Pour into a 32-ounce glass jar and refrigerate.
Rosehips
Rosehips are the seed pods of roses that contain high levels of antioxidants. They are abundant in vitamins C and E, B vitamins, polyphenols, and carotenoids. Rosehips are also well-studied for their anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer activity. (1)
Rosehips are high in vitamin C, which plays a key role in collagen formation. Vitamin C has also been shown to help protect the skin from harmful UV radiation. Rosehips also contain astaxanthin, a potent carotenoid that helps slow down the degradation of collagen. One study found that intake of rosehips powder helped reduce the appearance of crow’s feet around the eyes and helped to boost moisture levels and skin elasticity. (2)
Raspberry Leaf
Leaves of red raspberry plants are harvested before the plant flowers and used alone or in tea blends with many phytochemical benefits. The high tannins in the leaves help tone and tighten tissue. Raspberry leaf is most often associated with helping tonify the uterus, helping to reduce menstrual cramps. It is high in vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, zinc and iron and has plenty of antioxidants too.
Raspberry leaves are also supportive of healthy skin. In one study, raspberry leaf extract was used by 50 women topically in a split-face method, where one side of the face was treated with the raspberry leaf extract and the other side with their regular face moisturizer. After two months the women who used the raspberry leaf extract showed lightened areas of pigmentation, improved skin elasticity and an overall increased radiance. (3)
Red Clover
Phytoestrogenic isoflavones found in red clover help mitigate the effect of diminishing estrogen levels on the skin. As we age, estrogen levels drop which can lead to reduced collagen production, thinning and dry skin4. The isoflavones found in red clover have been shown to help reduce menopausal symptoms and help build bone, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. (4)
Anthocyanins (blue, violet, and red pigments found in plants) are also found in red clover. These have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant activity, helping reduce the aging effects that chronic, low-grade inflammation can have on the skin. (5)
Nettles
The roots, stems, and leaves of Urtica dioica, aka stinging nettles, have been used for centuries across cultures for cooking and medicinal purposes. They contain a plethora of vitamins like B6, B2, A and K, as well as important minerals like magnesium, manganese, and calcium. Nettles are said to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic and have antioxidant activity. Along with potent wound-healing properties, nettles also inhibit the enzymes that breakdown collagen and elastin and have anti-androgenic activity which helps to fight hormonal acne-related inflammation. (6)
Chamomile
What can be said about an herb that has been considered the “star of medical plants”? Chamomile is noted for having an apple-like scent, which is where it got its name “earth apple” from the Greek work chamaimlon. Phytochemicals found in chamomile like quercetin, rutin, apigentin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and luteolin to name a few, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-viral, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antiulcer activities…the list goes on and on. Chamomile is a welcome addition to any herbal tea formulation. (7)
Oat Tops
Known to help soothe dry, irritated skin when topically applied, Avena sativa L., aka oats, have been used medicinally since the 12th century. A recent study looked at the effects of oats on an in vivo allergic contact dermatitis model and found the oats helped bolster skin barrier formation as well as down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokines. (8)
When taken internally via a tincture, decoction or tea, oat tops provide a slew of health benefits. Rich in calcium, silica, zinc, iron, magnesium and other minerals, oat tops can help to keep hair, skin, teeth and bones healthy. The minerals and B vitamins found in oat tops help to regulate hormones, improve mood and manage cortisol levels, reducing stress.
Lemon Verbena
A lemony addition to this skin supportive tea blend is none other than lemon verbena! Medicinal uses for lemon verbena include digestive disorders, muscular and respiratory conditions. Recent studies have found that lemon verbena extends its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, photoprotective, brightening and chelating benefits to the skin. (9)
Exposure to environmental pollutants, pesticides, smoke, and heavy metals can weaken the skin’s natural barrier over time, allowing these nasties to penetrate deeper into the skin, potentially affecting skin structure and accelerating skin aging. (10)
Constituents found in lemon verbena like terpenoids, phenolic compounds and other potent antioxidants like verbascoside have been found to counteract skin damage caused by environmental toxins. (11)
Spearmint
The cooling effects of spearmint have been used to alleviate muscle pain, soothe toothaches and quell headaches. One of the main constituents in spearmint is menthol, which acts as an antispasmodic, helping to diminish digestive distress. Research has found spearmint to have anti-androgenic affects, lowering testosterone and reducing symptoms in women with PCOS. This tasty and refreshing herb is also anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cancer-protective, and a potent antioxidant. (12)
Contraindications
With any herbal teas, tinctures, extracts, decoctions, etc. moderation is key. Large amounts when taken orally may interfere with drug metabolism, increase the effects of certain medications or cause undesirable side effects. If you are on medication, or have any health concerns, please consult with your doctor before enjoying this tea blend.
Individuals with hormone sensitive cancers such as breast, uterine, ovarian cancers, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids should avoid red clover and raspberry leaf due to its estrogenic activity.
Pregnant and breast-feeding women should consult with their doctor before enjoying the Healthy Skin Tea.
Interested in our Special Blend?? Email Rene at rmaserati16@gmail.com or pick up a bag at your next appointment!
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